This does,
by no means, exclude subsequent development brought about by favorable
internal and external influences;" p. 36. "And Christ, the Godman, is
able to make us poor earthly creatures partakers of his celestial
nature_, (2 Pet. i. 4,) in the most solemn rite of his church, (the
eucharist,) which is therefore communion between Christ and man, in the
fullest manner possible on earth;" p. 37. Here the respected author, by
adopting the theory that _a living seed_ is implanted _by baptism_,
(whether into the soul or body he does not specify,) and then that the
Godman Christ Jesus makes these baptized individuals _partakers of his
CELESTIAL NATURE by the sacramental supper_, seems to favor something
like that theory of concorporation, or a physical union between Christ
and the believer, which is known in _various_ phases as Puseyism in
England, and Nevinism in the German Reformed Church of this country,
and which has spread a withering influence over the interests of
practical piety wherever embraced. Yet we would by no means affirm that
the Rev. Mr. Mann has embraced all the cardinal features of this system.
The objection that is fatal to it in our mind is, that we cannot find it
in God's word. [Note 1]
We shall therefore proceed to ascertain the Scripture doctrine in regard
to the influence of the sacraments in general. For the sake of brevity
and perspicuity, we shall present it in a concatenation of propositions,
that in the end will cover the whole ground, and conduct us safely to
the surest biblical results.
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